9 Outstanding Italian Reds to Buy Right Now
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The No. 1 wine-producing country in the world, Italy is home to over 350 recognized indigenous grapes and 20 wine regions and creates 16 percent of the world’s supply of vino. While we are big fans of many of Italy’s native whites, at this time of year our appetites turn to heavier foods and our focus falls on Italian reds from the Veneto, Tuscany and Piedmont.
Made mainly with the Corvina grape, Amarone della Valpolicella is a lusty red from the Veneto produced via a process that dries the grapes and imbues the wine with power and finesse. Amarone is terrific alongside opulent dishes like risotto made with red wine and topped with truffles or strong cheeses such as Stilton and Époisses. Piemonte is home to rolling hills covered with Nebbiolo, the base for Barolo and Barbaresco. Barolo is also a natural paired with any dish topped with truffles, and beyond that it’s perfect with earthy dishes like smoked duck, rack of lamb, or veal chops with mushrooms.
Tuscany serves up two top notch appellations, Brunello de Montalcino, where Sangiovese is king, and Bolgheri, home of Super Tuscans that may include Sangiovese but also heavily feature grapes that are considered more at home in Bordeaux like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Brunellos are wonderful with classic red sauce pasta dishes or bistecca alla Fiorentina, while Super Tuscans are a surefire hit with ribeye or strip steaks. Here are nine Italian reds to drink now.
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